Uyghur allegation escalation?

Written By: - Date published: 6:25 pm, February 6th, 2021 - 67 comments
Categories: China, making shit up, Propaganda, radio, uk politics, us politics - Tags:

Radio New Zealand carried a long story this week from the BBC of rape allegations in Xinjiang based on accounts from two Uyghur women Tursunay Ziawudun and Gulzira Auelkhan. Independent analyst Bernhard at Moonofalabama asks the question “Why do these Uyghur witnesses stories constantly change?

Bernhard goes into some detail about the changing stories form Tursunay Ziawudun and another woman Sayragul Sautbay. Ziawudun is now living in the United States and her story has been handled by the US-based Uyghur Human Rights project.

The accounts of both women, Sayragul Sautbay and Tursunay Ziawudun, have ‘evolved’ after they have been handled through a chain of organizations set up to propagandize against China’s anti-terror and development program in Xinjiang.

Like the Swedish organization which handled Sautbay, the U.S. based Uyghur Human Rights Project which handles Ziawudun is part of the infamous World Uyghur Congress, which is is not a grassroots movement, but a US government-backed umbrella for several Washington-based outfits that also rely heavily on US funding and direction. Today, it is the main face and voice of a separatist operation dedicated to destabilizing the Xinjiang region of China and ultimately toppling the Chinese government.

Gulzira Auelkhan has also spoken previously to media. Her complaints in March 2019 were that she was forced to work for less than the minimum wage, with nothing of the lurid detail in this latest report that as Bernhard says has the appearance of a bad porn script.

Bernhard cites the example of the testimony of Nyirah al-Sabah before the first Iraqi war. He says the claims by the women of rape in the re-education camps in Xinjiang are as believable as the ones Nyirah al-Sabah made about babies allegedly thrown out of Kuwaiti incubators:

Her story was initially corroborated by Amnesty International, a British NGO, which published several independent reports about the killings and testimony from evacuees. Following the liberation of Kuwait, reporters were given access to the country. An ABC report found that “patients, including premature babies, did die, when many of Kuwait’s nurses and doctors … fled” but Iraqi troops “almost certainly had not stolen hospital incubators and left hundreds of Kuwaiti babies to die.” Amnesty International reacted by issuing a correction, with executive director John Healey subsequently accusing the Bush administration of “opportunistic manipulation of the international human rights movement”.

Nyirah al-Sabah was later shown to the the 15-year old daughter of the Kuwaiti ambassador. It is now cited as a classic example of atrocity propaganda.

The BBC says in its story that the accounts of the women could not be verified. This did not stop them or Radio New Zealand from spreading the filth. There is a propaganda war against China driven out of the US and the UK.

We can expect more of this from the BBC but we should expect better from Radio New Zealand. They should not be republishing unverified sources.

67 comments on “Uyghur allegation escalation? ”

  1. barry 1

    I am not going to say I don't believe the women, but there is always a problem with refugee testimony, in that they have every motivation to exaggerate. This was certainly true in the run up to the Iraq war, as the allegations against Saddam became more and more divorced from reality.

    As you say, they have likely been coached by the organisations that are looking after them. It is possible that their initial statements were not the complete story, as they may have had reasons for holding back. But (as with child abuse testimony) it is important to know how they have been interviewed and debriefed to stop contamination of the evidence.

    What is happening in Xinjiang is certainly of concern, and it does seem that there is an attempt to eradicate parts of the local culture. I have no doubt that people who resist brainwashing will be harshly treated.

    The evidence for this harsh treatment applying to everyone is very thin. The majority of people who have been in the camps have been released back into society and the sort of abuses described would be counterproductive.

  2. Incognito 2

    This raises the question whether the NZ Government is a victim or a perpetrator of this propaganda war against China.

    The truth is usually somewhere in the middle and probably changes its position depending on the circumstances, i.e. a moveable and fuzzy/nebulous target, and depending on whom you’re talking to …

  3. RedLogix 3

    There is only one way to resolve this – independent scrutiny on the ground that's trusted and authoritative. That the CCP have resolutely refused such access means they get no benefit of the doubt here.

    • Incognito 3.1

      Well, maybe they’re hiding WMDs or killer bats that unleash global pandemics and therefore don’t deserve our natural justice.

      • RedLogix 3.1.1

        The allegation is a serious one and deserves a serious independent investigation. Otherwise all we have to go on is uncorroborated claims and speculation – useless and harmful.

        Now if you were a detective dealing with such a case, and the accused totally refused to cooperate and even exercised their ability to prevent access to the crime scene – what conclusion would you draw?

        We have a name for it – obstruction of justice.

        • Incognito 3.1.1.1

          Sure, when did stop beating your wife or when did you last fuck your pig are also serious allegations. Many a witch-hunt has started with serious allegations. My point is, if is not clear to other readers, that these sorts of allegations can be used to create a no-win situation for the ‘accused’ and no matter what they do or say or don’t do or not say will get them off the hook by the ‘accuser’, which is precisely the intention. Simultaneously, we’re being forced to take ‘a position’ and ‘a stand’ under the motto ‘if you’re not with us, you’re against us’. Regardless of what has happened or is happening with the Uyghurs, there are signs of populist propaganda and wedge politics going on and it is not the first time. So, who benefits and thus has a motive?

          • RedLogix 3.1.1.1.1

            I cannot but help note that if it was the USA (or any other western nation) being accused of these or similar crimes – there would rightly be a loud mob of people demanding we get to the truth of the matter.

            Yet somehow the CCP is getting the benefit of the doubt here I really cannot see it deserves.

            • Incognito 3.1.1.1.1.1

              Hypothetical they-do-it-too or what-if is not helping us move forward. Before you move in the ‘independent’ inspectors/investigators to ‘gather evidence’ and before you charge somebody of a crime, you’d need to first examine the facts. Besides apparently ever-changing victim/witness accounts of how many people, what do we have that we can look at? Please note that by “we”, I mean the NZ Government; there’s another “we”, which is people in the street, like you and me, who wouldn’t be able to recognise or identify an Uyghur if we bumped into one in Queen Street.

          • The Al1en 3.1.1.1.2

            Regardless of what has happened or is happening with the Uyghurs, there are signs of populist propaganda and wedge politics going on

            Yeah, that's terrible, won't someone think of the ruling elite's children.

            • Incognito 3.1.1.1.2.1

              Sorry, our borders are closed to international students.

              • The Al1en

                I know a place if they're in need of some ‘reeducation', regardless of what has happened or is happening with the Uyghurs

                • Incognito

                  I’m sure they love to hear from you so why don’t provide them with your full name and contact details here so that they can contact you? Lprent doesn’t like e-mail addresses in comments because it attracts bots but I’m sure we can make an exception in this case.

                  • The Al1en

                    Not me or my details, though I’m sure they already have them – I'm boycotting Chinese goods and services

                    • Incognito

                      I see, you’re a minimalist.

                      Do you want to enlighten us about what’s really happening with the Uyghurs or just spread innuendo?

                    • The Al1en

                      If you're posting stuff like

                      Regardless of what has happened or is happening with the Uyghurs

                      I doubt I'd really be able to enlighten you on anything.

                      Tell you the truth, I'm a little surprised you'd take such a position on such grievous matters such as mass incarceration, reeducation, abuse, forced sterilisation, stripping of religious freedom etc.

                      You may call it propaganda, as is your wont, but if even only half of the recent and historic claims are true it's a crime against humanity blunt appeasement won't provide cover for.

                    • Incognito []

                      You can interpret that in whatever way you like and as with pig fucker arguments, you have assumed that I have taken “such a position”. However, the intended meaning was to separate it, whatever it is, from any propaganda and dirty politics that might be taking place at the same time. In other words, just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that they’re not after you, if you (still) follow me. Propaganda is propaganda, facts are facts, and these are not mutually exclusive contrary to popular opinion and ‘common sense’. Do you have any facts to share? If not to enlighten me, which you’ve already decided is an exercise in futility, but to fill in other readers.

                    • The Al1en

                      I think I'll just leave it with a much lower opinion of you than I had before.

                      Sorry to bother you with my populist propaganda and wedge politic humanity.

                      [RL: I’m going to step in here and politely point out that you were doing OK until the personal denigration. Chill.]

                    • Incognito []

                      It was never about your humanity or me. Another thread that didn’t go anywhere.

                      Our Government has already made up its mind, after seeing the same BBC report, or has it? Good on them, I say, our collective humanity is at stake here.

                      https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/02/jacinda-ardern-s-grave-concern-after-reports-of-systemic-rape-in-china-s-uighur-camps.html

                      Edit: I posted the comment before I saw RL’s moderation note.

        • francesca 3.1.1.2

          Which neutral organisation would you trust ?

          • RedLogix 3.1.1.2.1

            I'm not sufficiently familiar with the possible candidates to make a list, but ideally it would be UN based. Perhaps headed up by a tribunal including already respected individuals like Nils Melzer.

            And much would depend on the degree of independent access giving them, not just for a stage managed visit, but over time and without constraint. Full transparency is essential.

            In the modern world it's impossible to make everyone happy, but it must be possible to establish an entity with acceptable credentials and credibility.

    • Brigid 3.2

      "the CCP have resolutely refused such access"

      Who has been refused access, on what grounds, by whose account?

      • Adrian Thornton 3.2.1

        Good questions, it will be interesting to see those answered in full by our resident red scare proponents.

    • Mike Smith 3.3

      RedLogix is right about one thing – the best way to resolve this issue is for a respected and independent authority to visit Xinjiang and see for themselves. He is not right to say that the Chinese government has resolutely refused access. The Chinese government has invited the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet to visit and as of last September her office is reported to be in discussions with them. The Chinese will have concerns over presumptions of guilt, similar to those they faced regarding the origins of the Covid virus in Wuhan. No doubt the issues will be resolved, but it may take time.

      • RedLogix 3.3.1

        The CCP is the accused party here – they should not get to vet or 'negotiate' with the investigation. Otherwise it's credibility is crippled from the outset.

        Pragmatically the least we can demand is complete transparency in any such discussions.

  4. Sanctuary 4

    It seems that the standard is well poised to provide the CCP with any number of stooges willing to engage in obfuscatory whataboutism. Presumably they'll be well rewarded with whatever constitutes dig biscuits for fools these days.

    • Incognito 4.1

      You’ve been on this site since its inception, as far as I can tell, and you know how it works and who owns the TS Trust. You also know that there are no “rewards” whatsoever for writing posts or comments here. Ask your TS mates – you know whom I mean. I find your comment mischievous and slanderous and I sincerely hope you won’t spread this kind of disinformation again about the site and/or its Authors.

  5. df 5

    Wow. This post seems to be very close to attempting to broadly discredit news of oppression of Uyghur by CCP. What's the motivation here? Holding media to account on their accuracy?

    • Incognito 5.1

      It seems you have a problem with reading comprehension. This is the first sentence of the OP, with my emphasis to make it clearer for you to understand what the OP is about:

      Radio New Zealand carried a long story this week from the BBC of rape allegations in Xinjiang based on accounts from two Uyghur women Tursunay Ziawudun and Gulzira Auelkhan.

      Capisce?

      • df 5.1.1

        That doesn't answer my question at all. But I wasn't asking you, was I? Step back buddy.

        • Incognito 5.1.1.1

          laugh

          Firstly, I’m not (your) “buddy” and maybe you want to try keeping your pretentious masculinity under control when you comment here, as it comes with a whiff of bad BO.

          Secondly, of course it didn’t answer your question at all. Your question was a loaded one based on a false premise. If I were to posit that you have almost stopped beating your wife and then asked the question as to what the motivation for that is, I would do what you did here.

          Thirdly, Mike might want to comment, but here on TS anybody can chime in at any time, as long as they don’t derail the thread. If you want a one-on-one conversation, you’re in the wrong place here; maybe start your own blog, yes?

          Capisce?

          • df 5.1.1.1.1

            Nope, not at all. Would be good to hear Mike's view but thanks for setting me straight on the rules around here. And to you…be careful on gender assumptions, it makes one look a little…unprogressive maybe. No doubt moderators will be watching you if you carry that sort of thing on.

            • Incognito 5.1.1.1.1.1

              The last thing I want is to be perceived here as “unprogressive” and I apologise for my characterisation of your comment. I look forward to more constructive contributions from you here in future.

              Ciao.

              • df

                Here is a constructive contribution which will be right up your alley, and Mike Smith's, too. Good 'ol CCP…such a great bunch to hitch your wagon to. Not doubt you will be commenting on the glorious work CCP is doing to keep their people safe BBC News – Cheng Lei: Australian journalist faces China spying charges
                https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-55975542

                • Incognito

                  I’m sorry to have to tell you that that is not a constructive contribution to the OP or to this thread. It is just an irrelevant link and a bunch of snide remarks with incorrect assumptions. You should have taken it to OM, IMO, because it comes across as flamebait.

                  If you cannot or don’t want to do better, maybe you should not comment under this Post, yes? It is more than a suggestion but I doubt you can or will read between the lines. However, I have a solution for that, which may cause serious and long-term adverse advents with you …

  6. Adrian Thornton 6

    " We can expect more of this from the BBC but we should expect better from Radio New Zealand. They should not be republishing unverified sources."…sorry pal but that horse as bolted long ago, RNZ has been spewing out pretty much verbatim US and UK propaganda for a long long time…just look at the latest Red scare propaganda involving the Liberal anti Putin pin up boy Navanly…turns out that Navalny is an extremist racist nationalist…last week’s interview with Kim Hill ‘Alexei Navalny vs Vladimir Putin’ with Anton Troianovski brushes over this in but a flash, now I ask you if Navalny had been ousted with these most outrageous racist attacks against Jews for instance or African Americans do you think Kim Hill would still just brush over that racism? I think not..Corbyn proved that…but as they were just some Eastern Europeans, they let it slide past so as to not get in the way of their anti-Putin agenda…not to mention they never covered Assange’s outrageous court case once, until it was over, however when the allegations of rape were swirling around they couldn’t get enough of that… the days of getting any balance or context from RNZ like this, are past…. RNZ National is now a radio station for older teenagers (afternoon shows) and lazy adults who can’t be bothered thinking for themselves (excepting the evening shows, which can be worthwhile for sure)….luckily Concert programme is still around.

    • francesca 6.1

      And Navalny is still ending out messages to his followers from his cell!!

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/300222590/navalny-urges-russians-to-overcome-their-fear-in-a-note-he-sent-from-jail

      We hear nothing from Assange

      • Adrian Thornton 6.1.1

        Yes, so I see, it seems that the media has a large part of the population believing up is down and left is right on certain issues….even by people who you would assume could/would see through such obvious propaganda and/or fake news…but no, for reasons unknown they appear to gobble up the bullshit just as readily as the casual observer of current affairs…very sad and quite disturbing.

        • francesca 6.1.1.1

          Jim Mora once interviewed Dr Tim Anderson from Sydney University on Syria ..by mistake I can't help feeling

          Tim wrote "The Dirty War on Syria"having visited several times on his own fact finding missions

          Jim was flabbergasted , being such a creature of orthodox beliefs, he was quite unprepared ,as his only exposure to Syria was through approved media

          • Adrian Thornton 6.1.1.1.1

            Damn, missed that one…good 'ol Mora, he really is the quintessential middle NZ broadcaster of our time, no bucking the system from that guy…no siree.

              • Adrian Thornton

                Thanks, that right there is something quite rare and unusual, an actual counter narrative… I cannot remember the last time I heard one on RNZ, I frequently emailed RNZ asking for such a thing over the years, but have pretty much given up bothering now.

                • Incognito

                  Maybe it is the exception that proves the rule wink

                  I don’t like to write off people or institutions too soon as I’ve been shown to be wrong many times when I did that. I find it better to reserve judgment, which is easier said than done.

                  • Adrian Thornton

                    That sounds good in theory, but I am just too impulsive by nature I’m afraid. Though that being said I have been listening to RNZ for 40+ years, and used to really love it, so it has actually been a very painful process for me personally, watching it’s slow but always discernible decent into mediocrity (and worse) and especially listening to Kim Hill who was one of my media hero’s, slowly become a one dimensional talking head (on foreign politics) and who will never have on a serious counter narrative to the party line on her show these days 9for a long time)…I guess John Pilger saw through her back then…but I hung on for many more years trying to give them and her the benefit of the doubt..but that time of indecision has now well and truly now passed, well for me anyway.…sadly (and I really mean that)

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rYQ2o4V3BM

                    • Incognito

                      I cannot comment on RNZ or Kim Hill. However, as a general observation, we change, people change. Long-term friendships dissipate, long-term marriages dissolve. Professionally too, it is easier to get on top of your game than to stay there, year in, year out. It can be painful to see/experience some changes but it is even more painful to refuse to accept and let go. Sometimes, I feel nostalgic and long for things in the past and if I give in, I can become melancholic. Much better to treasure the good memories of (the) good times and enjoy the good things in the present, I reckon. All good things come to an end, they say, but similarly, all good things have a beginning too. Think about it.

        • df 6.1.1.2

          You'll be pleased with Navalny's sentence though. See, the great Russian judiciary has set things straight. How conniving the powers in the west are, how gullible are their people. Fools!

          • Adrian Thornton 6.1.1.2.1

            I personally have no real deep interest in Russian politics, and less so about the fate of the racist hate monger Navalny; however I do have an interest in the way Russia and specifically Putin has been relentlessly demonized by western MSM over the past three years, as usual there are more parts to the puzzle than first meets the eye..maybe watch this to get a little more context on the subject, I know I learnt a thing or two.

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnmcdqF1BxI&t=559s

            • Stuart Munro 6.1.1.2.1.1

              Putin was always a monster, and the media fell down on the job of reporting his adventurism in Chechnya and Ingushetia. The "demonization" you claim falls well short of the man.

              • Adrian Thornton

                As I have said to you on more than one occasion, I have no love of Putin, or anything he represents, especially his actions in Chechnya, however as I have also tried explaining to you on a few other occasions as well, that is not what I am talking about. If you are fine with your legitimate problems with Putin being co-opted for the political and corporate foreign policy agendas of the USA and her allies then fine, personally I choose my friends more carefully, preferably ones with a similar moral and ethical world out look that I have.

                • Stuart Munro

                  It takes more than a simple assertion to establish that Putin is indeed being coopted for such purposes, or the Uighur women for that matter.

                  People coerced into abusive situations like those the women describe are likely to suffer mental health problems on a par with PTSD, so that some variation in their stories or inconsistencies are not as damning as they would be from a reporter that merely observed such activity.

  7. Mike Smith 7

    Wang Wemin, China's foreign ministry spokesman, dealt with the BBC story in his regular interview on February 3rd and 4th. In the latter he provides some more information on the people whose names come up frequently in the anti-China stories.

    On a related issue in the state-led information wars, the UK media regulator OFCOM has now banned CGTN. the Chinese national overseas news agency. The Independent reports OFCOM saying:

    “We are unable to approve the application to transfer the licence to China Global Television Network Corporation because it is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which is not permitted under UK broadcasting law.”

    “We’ve provided CGTN with numerous opportunities to come into compliance, but it has not done so. We now consider it appropriate to withdraw the licence for CGTN to broadcast in the UK.”

    Ofcom revoked the licence of Press TV, the Iranian state broadcaster’s English-language outlet, in 2012, for breaches of the Communications Act.

    In 2019, Ofcom fined the Russian broadcaster RT £200,000 over “serious and repeated failures” to report with due impartiality on issues including the Novichok poisonings and the Syrian conflict.

    Seems to ba a pattern. As for Novichok, the deadliest poison ever that only Putin can authorise but never kills anyone to whom it has supposedly been applied, the one thing you can say about it with absolute truth is that it is proving indestructible in the western media.

    • francesca 7.1

      Well you have to admit, novichok is hugely effective as a propaganda device

      Like the hateful Chinese guards who bite as well as rape, poison sets the perpetrator beyond the human pale, worthy of horrified disgust .Why the wretches are evil I tell you and should properly be killed

      Both world wars had similar grotesque propaganda , to keep the populace in a state of hatred and fearfulness of the enemy.

    • Tiger Mountain 7.2

      There appears to be a flaw in the Navalny and other stories–this incredibly dangerous “deadly nerve agent” does not seem to bump anyone off, quickly at least–perhaps non fatal doses are administered to ensure maximum suffering for the recipient? or these outlaw compounds are unreliable to handle? or…we could be being had.

      Why should certain international media companies and services, unreliable and biased as hell on “Western” and local NZ matters, necessarily be believed on Russia and China? it smells of some sort of offical line/pundit confirmation bias.

      Mr Navalny is a Yale educated Finance capitalist, make no mistake. Maybe not an authoritarian, but no friend of the working class in reality. The positive thing in this is Russian people in action trying to enforce the democratic rights of speech and assembly.

    • Adrian Thornton 7.3

      "the one thing you can say about it with absolute truth is that it is proving indestructible in the western media." …that is a fact alright.

  8. Andrew Miller 8

    I’m assuming that the grotesque moral relativism underpinned the nauseating CCP apologia that The Standard trots out with monotonous regularity is driven by an anti imperialism of fools, but it’s stuff like this that makes so many people who’s politics lean left want nothing to do with ‘the left’.
    I’m also assuming this post won’t stay up, but at least who moderates these post will at least what utter contempt you deserve to be held in.

    • RedLogix 8.1

      Andrew. The Standard is a collective of authors – it's a mistake to think we all agree on all issues. Quite the contrary.

    • Adrian Thornton 8.2

      Andrew, I think many people whose ‘politics lean left’ in the past are now firmly planted in the centre…and I am not sure if you are aware of this but the Left and the Centre are two completely different political ideologies.

    • Incognito 8.3

      You are the second third one under this Post making an ignorant comment about this site and how it operates. Only a month ago, another ignorant fool made a similar comment and received an educational Moderation note from the SYSOP, Author, Commenter, and Moderator as well as Trustee of The Standard Trust. I highly recommend it to you:

      https://thestandard.org.nz/colin-james-looking-forward/#comment-1772974

      I noticed that you were already whinging & whining about this blog in 2012 in a highly similar way.

  9. observer 9

    This post is why I no longer comment on the Standard. No loss, perhaps, but I know I'm not the only one.

    My politics are certainly on the Left, and I'm happy to see debate here between positions within the broad NZ left (Greens and Labour on tax and housing and inequality, for example). I don't expect to agree all the time, and a very wide range of opinion is natural, and healthy.

    But deflecting for a dictatorship is not "left" or "socialist" or "progressive" or anything, except shameful. When people are oppressed – and brutally – it's morally bankrupt to shill for the oppressors.

    It's not good enough to say "authors have different opinions". Fascists have opinions. Racists have opinions. Trump fans have opinions. They don't get to publish on the Standard. And nor should apologists for torture. Ever.

    I can only hope that none of you or your loved ones ever suffer the atrocities that Mike Smith gladly defends. Nobody deserves that. Over and out.

    • Incognito 9.1

      FWIW, I always appreciated your comments and I do miss them and regard it as a loss.

      I can only hope that none of you or your loved ones ever suffer the atrocities that Mike Smith gladly defends.

      I’m surprised that you have misconstrued Mike’s Post. Frankly, I find it absurd to think that the OP was defending or being an apologist for the atrocities mentioned in the OP. This wasn’t a philosophical treatise how incest between two consenting adults is ok.

    • In Vino 9.2

      Well, we are lied to so often, aren't we? Proven lies that the British fed to their public about the Germans' behaviour in WW1 resulted in the British public being wary of the truth that was later being told to them about the Nazis.

      Same thing here. I have heard so many proven lies about, say, Vietnam delivered to us as truth, only to find out later it was bullshit. Are you sure you know whom to believe, Observer?

  10. Stuart Munro 10

    One might well humour the possibility that the victims the BBC reported were self-serving persons exploiting US funding, much as Chalabi is alleged to have been in relation to Iraq, were it not for an extended body of reports suggesting that China was essentially deculturizing Uighurs.

    This site seems to have plenty to report, though their perspective seems primarily religious.

    And this BBC report is from mid 2019.

    These kinds of reports did not characterize Hu's premiership – they seem to correlate with Xi. Taken together with the womens' stories it suggests that the Uighur program is no garden of sweets, and not something any progessive could support – only lickspittle lackeys of oppressive regimes.

  11. Subliminal 11

    At its heart, the western monetary system has become one of monopoly rent extraction. Debts from private banks are always against some already existing asset or infrastructure. This is the case both for the private sector and for governments. When a debtor defaults, the asset is taken over. In the case of governments, infrastructure and services are sold. The whole system is based on neoliberal austerity. Once the commons has been sold, it is rented back at ever increasing cost as a monopoly. The brutality of this system, which is glossed over by economic language, is extreme. It involves endless wars against any independence. It involves starvation sieges against the most vulnerable. It means a zero sum game whereby "winning" means someone else must "lose".

    China offers another possibility. Of course it is flawed and still open to corruption. But its an alternative and strong enough and definitely successful enough to be a "threat" to the US model. In a zero sum game there is only one winner. Everybody else are losers. Trunp embodies the zero sum mentality perfectly. The Chinese system involves public banking. Credit is used to build infrastructure and have the state run it. This eliminates monopoly rentiers and makes the cost of doing business much less. It frees money to raise the standard of living and education and health. It is inclusive and involves a win-win mentality. Internationally China can use its surpluses to help create infrastructure and other services for other countries. It does not pauper a country when they default on debt. How could they? The US and West wouldn't allow it. China, Russia and Iran are attempting to initiate a system of international payments that would not create one country dominant above another. This is at the heart of win-win.

    There are huge vested interests in the West with billions of money and some serious military hardware that do not want this to happen and have no qualms about the means that they use to prevent it. So its important to make sure that we arent just rushing headlong into another manufactured war against another manufactured enemy.

    Michael Hudson

  12. Obtrectator 12

    "As for Novichok, the deadliest poison ever that only Putin can authorise but never kills anyone to whom it has supposedly been applied … "

    Tell that to the family and friends of the late Dawn Sturgess of Salisbury, UK.

  13. ngatimozart 13

    The allegations against the CCP / PRC regarding the Uighur people in Xianjang are fairly correct and have been substantiated by CCP documentation that has been leaked. The CCP has a policy of forced assimilation of minorities into Han Chinese society with the objective of creating a homogeneous society subservient to the Party. In Xianjang it's doing this by imprisoning the Uighur population in concentration camps and stripping them of their cultural and religious identity. The intention is to erase the Uighur society, culture, ethnicity, and Islam from the PRC.

    Whilst this may not agree with your political world view, it is part of a process that has been ongoing since the PRC invasion of Tibet in the 1950s. There they have slowly but surely suppressed the Tibetan culture and identity. Now they are starting in Inner Mongolia, with all lessons in school now to be taught in Mandarin only. Until late last year most lessons were taught in Mongolian.

    This is not the actions of a democratic benevolent government, but the actions of an authoritarian, totalitarian state. To be true mainland China has never experienced democracy in its history, but they deserve far better than this latest incarnation of an imperial dynasty.

    Finally here in in Aotearoa NZ we all have the right and freedom to disagree with the government and what it says or does. We can say so publicly as often and as loudly as we like. We can question our leaders parentage, species, intellectual capability etc., without fear. However if we do that in the PRC, we would find ourselves arrested and off to a re-education camp for a long period of time. So think about that too.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T21:08:21+00:00